Gracing the cover of this month's issue of Shopping Center Businessmagazine is Metropica, a new mixed-use development in South Florida that is "changing the retail environment."

In the article, Metropica: A City For the Future, ci design Principal Chris Bauer discusses how Metropica will create a "dense, sustainable urban community" while complementing, embracing and connecting its suburban neighbors. ci design is serving as master planner of the project, and as architect for the retail, entertainment and mixed-use district.

"[Metropica] will be an environmentally sensitive, pedestrian-oriented core that will utilize public transit to become a larger community with such suburban elements as the Sawgrass Mills mall, BB&T Center and upcoming American Express corporate campus. In this respect, Metropica is at the forefront of a national – and global trend – of urbanization," writes Mr. Bauer.

In November, Metropica officially broke ground and expects to begin construction on the first residential tower in 2015. Expected completion is 2017.